The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-13
MEXICAN euLL-FieHTs.
How tho Animals are Prepared for Thei
Conflict with Human Beings.

MEXICAN BULL-FiGHTS.
How tho Animals are Prepared for Their
Conflict with Human Beings.
Long before the performance begins
the Plaza de Toros is filled to overflow
ing with people of every rank and sta
ton in life, from the blanketed peon to
the satin-clad senorita. Both the
entrance of the music and the entrance
of judge are followed by bursts of ap-
plause, but the populace rend the air
with deafening shouts when the bull
fighters appear. They consist Of a
captain. clown and generally four
toreros. two or three picadores and
mozos. The captain and toreros are
dressed in bright-colored satins. short
jacket and knee-trousers, beautifully
and elaborately embroidered in silk and
silver, white hose, black slippers and
fancy hat. They wear their hair in
knot at the back of the head. and carry
in their hand or on their arm a '.capa'-
kind of cloak or circular, lined with
red or other bright color. The plea
dores, mounted on horseback, are
dressed in leather. with gay colored
jackets, sashes and broad sombreros,
and carry lance with which to stick
and worry the bull, and also to keep
him from goring their horses. The
clown is dressed like any other clown
and the mozos are servants.
The men enter the ring and parade
around it. Then the gate is opened.
and in plungcs the bull. Before enter.
ing he has been stuck and teased and
worried until he is in a perfect ..whirl-
wind and tempest of passion" verita-
bly, mad bull. A bunch of ribbons
attached to a barb with point like
fsh-hook flutters from his shoulder.
As he passes through the gate the plea
dores prick him with their lances, and,
plunging, rearing. snorting, mad as u
March hare, he rushes furiously at the
first man he sees.
This is generally one of the toreros.
who opens and dextrously presents his
capa. The bull lunges at this, and tho
man springs lightly to one side and es-
capes unhurt. The men are active,
muscular and graceful. The picadores
gallop around the ring, pricking with
their lanccs the desperate bull, who
makes frequent lunges at them, some
times goring, disemboweling or killing
the poor. inoffensive horses, and some
times upsetting horse and rider and in
juring both. The toreres are quick to
the rescue, waving their capas, at
which tho bull seldom fails to plunge.
At a signal from the judge, the picadores
retire from the ring.
The next act is putting the banderil-
| las in the shoulders of the bull. These
banderillas are wooden shafts about a
foot long, an iron fish hook ut one end.
| and the other decorated with flowers,
| flags, etc. One of the torcros takes one
in each hand, and. holding them aloft,
leaping, dancing and shouting. attracts
the attention of the toro, who rushes
upon him. As the toro (bulI) lowers
his head the man sticks in the banderil.
las. dextcrously leaps to one side and
runs for his life. Thus putting in two
at time. he puts in six. This is a
daring and desperate feat, and yet men
have placed the bandcrillas with their
teeth instead of their hands. After this
the infuriated animal rushes at every
one. Then comes the captains work
holding his capa to the bull, he receives
his first lunge from the eftside, spring.
ing quickly to the right he receives the
second. This time standing quiet, cool
and steady, he receives him on his
sword. and the bull topples over dead.
In the ring at intervals are boards ol
doors behind which men can retire
safely when too closely pursued. Some
times it is close race between tore
! and torero; sometimes the former wins
the race; then the Mexicans are do
lighted with a sickening sight-the
shedding of little human gore. Some.
times the bull catches the man on hi:
horns and pitches him out of the ring
up among the audience. Sometimes
the man is killed. When the toros dc
not fight they lasso them and drag
them from the ring.
After the killing of one bull another
is admitted. There are generally five
or six. When the fight is good the cx
cited audience throw hats, cigars
handkerchiefs, money, ETC., to the vic
tors. and applaud vociferously. Wher
it is poor they greet the performers
with empty bottles. cushions, chair.
and such liker and deafen you will
their Kisses.
Before witnessing a Corida de Toro.
was expressing my surprise at people
in this enlightened age keeping up sucI
a barbarous sport, when a Mexican
asked me if had ever witnessed com
bat between Sullivan and Ryan. L
was just rebuke, and although coult
! answer no, hung my American head
have heard enough of such things
where men beat and bruise each othe,
and call it amusement. ! think it fa
worse than the Corida de Toros, and a
the latter there is no betting.-Mertc,
Cor. N. o. Picau,t,ae.